A Terrible Beauty is the first, and so far only, release from UK band The Uncle Devil Show, a band consisting of Justin Currie, lead singer of Del Amitri, with Jim McDermott of Simple Minds, and his brother, singer Kevin McDermott.

All tracks are credited pseudonymously to "Herring/Barr" except for "Angie Baby", a cover of the Helen Reddy hit, written by Alan O'Day.

A Terrible Beauty was produced by The Uncle Devil Show and mastered by Paul McGeechan.

Reviewer John Murphy of MusicOMH praised the album for its humor, saying it rewarded multiple listenings.

magazine also praised the album and noted that its use of profanity was frequent and effective.